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. J. G. DIXON. V

AUTOMATIC FOG SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY'S.

I Patented Nov. 28, 1893',

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THE mmou AL LITHOGHAPHING ASNINGTON, n. c

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 2. J. G. DIXON. AUTOMATIC FOG SIGNAL APPARATUSFOR. RAILWAYS.

No. 509,796. Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. G. DIXON. AUTOMATIC FOG SIGNALAPPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS.

Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

MAM/j m: NAYIDNAL LIIHOQRAFHING COMPANY. wnsumavou, o. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. G. DIXON. AUTOMATIG FOG SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR ILLULVQTAYS. N0. 5'09,796. Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

a N r a Q J I J l/ E a 5% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNGEORGE DIXON, OF HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND.

.AUTOMATIC FOG- SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,796, dated November28, 1893. Application filed May 25, 1393. sees in). 475,469. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that LJOHN GEORGE DIXON, a subject of the Queenof GreatBritain, and a resident of Huddersfield, England, haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Apparatus Employed in Fog-SignalingonRailways, of which the following is a speci: fication, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to apparatus for placing detonating cartridges orfog signals on railway metals in foggy weather. It is automatic in itsaction, and operates to remove the cartridge which has been exploded bya passing train and replace the same by a fresh cartridge which is heldon the line in readiness for the next train so long as the ordinarylinesignal is at danger. The said apparatus is controlled by the ordinaryline signal wire or point rod and is placed in the operative orinoperative position by the signalman in the cabin or elsewheresimultaneously with the operation of the said line signal. The saidapparatus remains in the operative position so long as the line signalis on and in that position it is operated by each passing train in sucha manner as to throw out the exploded cartridge and replace the samewith a fresh cartridge. The cartridges are contained in a suitable trunkor box which can be turned about apivo't toward and away from the rail.The normal position of the box is vertical corresponding with the offposition of the line signal.

The movement of the box from the normal position toward the rail effectsthe placingof a cartridge on the rail, and the movement in the oppositedirection from the vertical position, that is to say, away from therail, replaces the spent cartridge with a fresh one. The movement towardthe rail is effected by the Signalman, and that away from the rail iseffectedby the engine or train.

In theaccompanying drawings I have shown how my invention may beconveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

Figure lis a plan of the apparatus for placing the detonating fogsignals or cartridges on the rail. Fig.2 is avertical section of thesame takenon the line at, m Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectiontaken on the line y y Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a rear end elevation of therocking movement of the said box.

compartment (J above the platform 0 same. Fig. 5 is a plan drawn to asmaller scale of one form of mechanism for operating the box shown inFigs. 1 to 4. to displace the spent cartridges and replace the same withfresh cartridges. Fig. dis a plan, and Fig. 7 is an elevation of aslightly modified form of this operating mechanism.

Like letters of'reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, A is a stationarybox or casing which issunk in a hole in the permanent way by the side of the rail at the placewhere the cartridges are required to be placed on the line, and isfirmly stayed as for example by a beam B or otherwise, so as to preventrocking.

Inside the casing A is a long rectangular trunk or box 0 which isprovided with a pivot C Fig. 2 at its lower. end resting in a suitablebearing formed in the casing, or is otherwise suitably supported toadmit of a to-and-fro The upper end of the casing A is madesufficientlywide in theplane of the movement of the box 0 to allow of said rockingmovement, the extent of which is limited by the ends of the opening A inthe top of the casing.

C is a cover attached to the box 0 which cover extends over the openingA and serves to keep out the rain.

03(1 Fig. 2 are partition walls extending the whole length of the box 0and which form an inner compartment 0 for the cartridges or detonatingfog signals. 0 is a platform for supporting the said cartridges. Saidplatform is furnished with ears C O which project through vertical slotsC Fig. 3 in the partition walls 0 and are attached by chains D, D thatpass over guide pulleys D, D to balance weights D D Fig. 1.

E indicates the cartridges packed in the The uppermost cartridge ispressed against the top of the compartment which is constituted by adoor 0 tridges when required. It is hinged at (J and can be held shut bya catch or otherwise. An aperture 0 is formed in the "front wall of thechamber 0 sufficiently large to allow of the passage therethrough ofonecartridge at a time, and a corresponding opening Otis The said dooris provided to admit of refilling the box with fresh car- TOC providedin the back wall to receive a sliding piece F which effects the feedingas hereinafter described. Front and rear tubular extensions C, C ofrectangular section are formed on the walls of the chamber 0 for apurpose hereinafter explained. The sliding piece F which projects fromthe part 0 is furnished with a cross bar F at its rear end which barworks between two ears F F formed on brackets F placed one on each sideof the apparatus for a purpose hereinafter explained.

G is a shaft supported .in bearings in a I bracket G fixed to the casingA; Said shaft is coupled by an arm G and links G G3 to the upper end orhead of the box 0, and is loaded by a weight G on the end of an arm G soas to cause it to tendcontinually to pushthe box 0 toward the rail H.This tendency however is restrained by the pull a of the wire I of theordinary line signal which this purpose.

. position of p N jectsthrough the bottom of its channel guide the box 0in the upright position shown in Fig. 2'but allows the said box to fallforward toward the rail when the signal is on. The wire I is notattached directly to the box 0 but passes over a guide pulley-I and issecured to a long bar or weight J which is suspended in a channeled partJ Fig. 3 formed outside the box 0. In the position shown in Fig. 2 theupper end of the weight J is in contact with the guide pulley I,over'which the wire 1 passes, and is thus prevented from being drawn outof its channel guide any farther. Any other stop maybe provided for Whenthe wire I is slackened and the line signal thus allowed to go on,thebox C tilts toward the rail as far as it can go. The whole of theslack in the wire I is however not taken up by this movement of the box0 and consequently the bar or weight J is allowed to descend in itschannel guide. When the line signal is pulled off by the slgnalman, theweight J is first drawn up as far as it will go, and then the box C ispulled back to its upright position. In the lowest the weight J itslower end pro- J as, and for a purpose hereinafter specified.

K is an arm fixed on a short shaft K that passes' through the casing A.The arm K is inside the casing and its lower end is formed with a part KFigs. 2 and 3 which when the arm K is oscillated is adapted to strikethe lower end of the weight J when the latter is in its lowest position,but which will miss the said weight when the latter-israised.

' K is an arm fixed on the outer end of the shaft K and connected byalink L to an arm L fixed on a shaft L, see Figs. 2 and 5, which shaft isloaded by a balance weight L mounted on an arm L fixed to the saidshaft. By oscillating the shaft Lthe lever K is caused to swing to andfro and to strike the weight J when the latter is in its lowest positionas above described. The balance weight L is sufficiently heavy toovercome when released when the ordinar si nal is off maintains" arm 0the balance weight G so that when the said weight L is freed fromrestraint and the weight J is depressed, it will operate to push backthe box 0 away from the rail as far as it will go.

Referring now to Fig. 5 M is a bar preferably about twenty feet longpivoted at M preferably on the outside of the rail H. Otis a shaftsupported in suitable bearings O and having an arm 0 at one end thatextends underneath the bar M and to which is pivoted a vpi 11 thatprojects into a small hole in the under side of said bar; the bar M maybe otherwise supported by an arm of the shaft O. 7 O is a balance weightmounted on an arm 0 secured to the shaft 0, and which balances the barM, and maintains said bar in an inclined position, so that its higherend projects about one andone-half inches more or less above the levelof the rail. The pivoted end of the bar is depressed slightly below therail. 0 is another arm secured on the shaft 0 and passing underneath andsupporting acranked part of the balance arm L of the shaft L; the said,arm L is thereby prevented from descending until the arm 0 is firstdepressed by the passing of a train along the line. P is a dashpot themovable piston of which is connected with the shaft 0 by an arm Psecured on said shaft and coupled to the said piston. The object of thesaid dashpot is to prevent the too rapid rising of the arm O after ithas been depressed.

Q Figs. 1 and 2 is a metal bar secured to the side of the rail at theplace where the cartridges are placed thereon and which serves to form alevel support for said cartridges.

The operation of this apparatusis as follows, that is to say, assumingthe line signal is on and the box 0 is therefore inclined toward theline so as to hold a fog signal thereon, then when an engine or trainpasses over the rails at the place where this apparatusis fixed it firstfires the detonating cartridge and then depresses the inclined bar M andthereby partially turns the shaft 0 and lowers the The weight L beingthus no longer supported, descends and partially turns the shaft L andthrough the arm L, link L and arm K operates to turn the arm K and causethe lower end thereof to press against the weight J which is then in itslowest position. The box 0 is thereby pushed back beyond the upright orcentral position, and the cross bar F of the slide F is brought intocontact with and arrested by,-the rear stops F on the brackets F Thecontinued rearward movement of the box 0 then has the efiect of pushingout the spent cartridge fromthe .jawO

gins to rise under the influence of the balance weight 0 but rises veryslowly by reason of the dashpotPand hence-tiine-is given for the spentcartridge to be thrown out-of the machine and replaced by anothercartridge in the manner above described. When however the bar M hasreturned to its initial position the arm K will have receded from theweight J and will thus have allowed the box 0 to return to the rail Hand place the new cartridge thereon ready for the next train it the linesignal is still at danger, or return to the upright positionif in themeantime the line signal has been taken off. During the forward movementof the box 0 toward the rail H the plate F is drawn out of the part 0 bythe forward stops 15" of the plates F which stops engage with and arrestthe bar F. Another cartridge is thus permitted to ascend from the box totake the place of that previously at thetop. It will be seen that anytrain which passes the fog signaling apparatus when the line signal isoff will not operate either to discharge or to replace a cartridgebecause in the first place the fog signal is not then on the line, andinthe second place the weight J being in its raised position the arm Kwhenoscillated misses the said weight and consequently does not pushback the box. A cartridge is thus placed on the line only when the linesignal is at danger and said cartridge after being discharged isreplaced automatically by the passing train.

In the slight modification of the apparatus shown in Figs. 6 and 7 theincline M is provided with a'tail piece M which rests on an arm N fixedon shaft K of the signal apparatus which shaft is weighted by a weight Nso as to operate the box 0, in the manner above described with referenceto Fig. 5 when the tail end of the bar M is raised.

P is a dashpot to prevent the too rapid return of the bar M to itsinitial position after it has been depressed.

The slow movement of the apparatus to and away from the rail is animportant feature of my invention inasmuch as the apparatus is therebycaused to work smoothly and eificiently and is not injuriously shaken aswould bethe case if it were connected positively to the incline andoperated suddenly by a passing train or engine.

What I claim is- 1. In an automatic fog signal apparatus for railways,the combination of a cartridge box pivoted so as to be capableof rockingto and away from the rail, an opening with jaws in said box throughwhich the cartridges can pass one at a time, a balanced platform forsupporting the cartridges and maintaining the uppermost cartridgeopposite said opening, and means comprising a pusher and fixedcontrolling stops therefor whereby when the box is pushed back away fromthe rail beyond its normal position the foremost cartridge is thrown outof the jaws and replaced by another one, and when the box is rockedtoward the rail the pusher is withdrawn to allow another cartridge torise into the position of the one previously displaced, substantially asdescribed for the purpose specified.

2. In an automatic fog signal apparatus for railways, the combination ofa cartridge box pivoted so as to be capable of rocking to and away fromthe rail, an opening with jaws in said box through which the cartridgescan pass one at a time, a balanced platform for supporting thecartridges and maintaining the uppermost cart-ridge opposite saidopening, means comprising a pusher and fixed controlling stops thereforwhereby when the box is pushed back away from the rail beyond its normalposition the foremost cartridge is thrown out of the jaws and replacedby another one, and when the box is rocked toward the rail the pusher iswithdrawn to allow another cartridge to rise into the position of theone previously displaced, a balance weight which tends to move the boxtoward the rail,

and a connection between the said box and the ordinary line signalwhereby when the signal is off the box is maintained away from the rail,and when the signal is on the box is inclined toward the rail-and holdsa cartridge thereon, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic fog signal apparatus for railways, the combination ofa cartridge box pivoted so as to be capable of rocking to and away fromthe rail, an opening with jaws in said box through which the cartridgescan pass one at a time, a balanced platform for supporting thecartridges and maintaining the uppermost cartridge opposite saidopening, means comprisinga pusher and fixed con trolling stops thereforwhereby when the box is pushed back away from the rail beyond its normalposition the foremost cartridge is thrown out of the jaws and replacedby another one, and when the box is rocked toward the rail the pusher iswithdrawn to allow another cartridge to rise into the position of theone previously displaced, a balance weight which tends to move the boxtoward the rail, a wire I connected with the ordinary line sig' nal andpassing over a guide pulley I, and a weight J suspended from said wireand adapted to slide up and down in a channel J, the upward movement ofsaid weight being limited by the pulleyI', substantially as describedfor the purpose specified.

4. In an automatic fog signal apparatus for railways, the combination ofa cartridge box pivoted so as to be capable of rocking to and away fromthe rail an opening with jaws in said box through which the cartridgescan pass one at a time, a balanced platform for suppporting thecartridges and maintaining the uppermost cartridge opposite said opening, means comprising a pusher and fixed controlling stops thereforwhereby when the box is pushed back away from the rail beyond its normalposition the foremost cartridge is thrown out of the jaws and replacedby another one, and when the box is rocked toward the rail the pusher iswithdrawn to allow another cartridge to rise into the position of theone previously displaced, an arm K controlled by a balance weight andadapted when re- 4 matte leased teengage with the wei'g'ht'J when thelatter is towered and push tli'e cai tridge box from the ran, substantrany as described for the purpose specified.

5,- Inan adtor'natic fog signal apparatus for railways,- the combinationof a cartridge box pivoted so as to be capable ofro'cking to and awayfrom the rail, an opening with jaws in said box through which; thecartridges can pass-one at a time, balanced platform for supporting thecartridges and maintaining the uppermostcartridge opposite said opening,meanscomprising a pusher and fixed controllihg stops therefor wherebywhen thebox is pushed back away from the rail beyond its normal positionthe foremost cartri'd ge is thrown" out of the jawsane replaced byanother one, and when the box is rocked toward-the rail the pusher iswithdrawn to allow another cartridge to rise ,into' the position' of theone previously displaced, an inclined bar pivoted to the side of therail" and adapted to'be depressed by'eaeh passing engine andmeansconnecting said inclined bar to the cartridge box whereby the latter isrocked away from the rail when the bar is depressed, substantially aspurpose specified.

6. In an automatic fog signal apparatus for railways, the combination ofa cartridge box pivoted so as to be capable of rocking to and away fromthe rail, an opening with jaws in said box through which the cartridgescan pass one at a time, a balanced platform for supporting thecartridges and maintaining the uppermost cartridge opposite saidopening, means comprising a pusher and fixedcontrolling stops thereforwhereby when the box is pushed back away from the rail beyonditis normalposition the foremost cartridge is thrown out of the jaws and replacedby another one, and when the box is rocked toward the rail the pusher iswithdrawn to allow another cartridge to rise iuto'the positionof the onepreviously displaced, a balance weight which tends to move the boxtoward the rail, a wire I' connected with the ordinary line signal andpassing over a guide pulley I, a weight J suspended from-said wireandadapt ed to slide up'and down in a channel J be-' ing drawnupw-hen theline signal is 0E and lowered when the line signalis on, the upwardmovement of the weight being limited-bythe pulley I, an inclinedcounterbalanced bar pivoted to the side of the rail in a position tobedepressed by each passing engine; and means intermediate of" thesaid barand the weight J adapted to-push laterally against thesaid weightwhenthe'inolined bar isd'epressed and theweig'ht is'loweredybutnot'to'engage'withthe weightwhen the latter isfraised,-thereby forcingback the boxwhen the'line signal is on but not atany other time,substantially asdescribed for the-purpose specified.-

7'. In- Manama-stag signal apps-muster described, for the railways, thecombination of'a cartridge box pirated so as to becapable of re'ek nrg mand v away" from the ran, an openirr with; jaws saiid box throughwhichthe cartridges can pass one at a time, a balanced platform forsupportingthe cartridges and. maintaining the uppermost cartridge opposite saidopenin'g, means comprising a pusher and fixed controlling stops thereforwhereby when the box is pushed back away from the railb'eyondits normalposition the foremost cartridge is thrown out of the jaws and replacedby an other one,-and when the box is rocked toward the railthe pusher iswithdrawn to allow another cartridge to riseinto the positionof the onepreviously displaced, an arm K controlled by a balance weight andadapted when released to engage with the weight J when the latter islowered and push the cartridge box away from] the rail and an inclinedcounterbalanced bar pivoted to the side of therail in a position to bedepressed by each passing engine and forming a" support to prevent themovement of the arm K so long as said b'ar remains raised, substantiallyas described for the purpose specified.

8. In an automatic fog signal apparatus for railways, the combination ofa cartridge box pivoted so as to be capable of rockingto and away fromthe rail, an opening with jaws in said box through which the cartridgescan pass one at a time, a balanced platform for supporting thecartridges and maintaining the uppermost cartridge opposite saidopening', means comprising a pusher and fixed controlling stops thereforwherebywhen the'box is pushed back away from the rails beyond its normalposition the foremost cartridgeis thrown out of the jaws and replaced byanother one, and when the box is'rocked toward the rail the pusher iswithdrawn toallow'another cartridge to rise into the position of the onepreviously displaced, an arm K controlled by a balance weight andadapted when released to press against the weight J when the latter islowered and push back the cartridge box away from the rail, an inclinedcounterbalanced bar pivoted to the side of the rail in a position to bedepressed byeac'h passing engine, and forming a-support to prevent themovement of the arm K so long as the said bar remains raised, and meansto prevent the too sudden return of the inclined bar to its normalposition, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

9; In" an automatic fog signal apparatu'sfor railways, the-combinationof a cartridge box pivoted so as to be capable of rocking to and awayfrom the rail, an opening with jaw-s in said box through which thecartridges can pass one at a time, a balanced plat-form forsupportingthe cartridges and maintaining the uppermostcartrid'geopposite said openmeans comprising a pusher and fixedyond its normalposition the foremost cartridge is thrown out of the jaws and replacedby another'one, and when the box is rocked toward the rail the pusher iswithdrawn to allow another cartridge to rise into the position of theone previously displaced, an arm K controlled bya balance weight andadapted when releasedto press against the weight J when the latter islowered and push the cartride box away from the rail, an inclinedcounter balanced bar pivoted to the side of the rail in a position to bedepressed by each passing engine, a shaft 0 having an arm 0 securedthereon to engage with the bar M and another arm 0 carrying a balanceWeight 0 Y a dash-pot P connected with the shaft 0 by an arm P, anotherarm 0 secured on the shaft 0 for supporting a loaded cranked arm L whichis connected to the arm K by shaft L,arm L, link L arm K and shaft K,substantially as described, for the fied.

10. In an automatic fog signal apparatus, the combination of a cartridgebox for placing the cartridges on the rail, an inclined bar pivoted in aposition to be depressed by the wheels of each passing engine ortrain,1neans connecting the said bar to the said cartridge box foractuating the latter when the former is depressed, and means comprisinga dash pot whereby the inclined bar is prevented from rising suddenly orrapidly after each depression thereof, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May,1893.

:TOHN GEORGE DIXON.

Witnesses:

GEO. HARRISON, ARTHR. A. BERGIN.

purpose speci-

